Category: Religion
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Words do hurt! Words mirror hearts.
One week off from writing, and I struggle to focus on what words I should share. Words are powerful tools and they can also be powerful weapons. I pray that my words are tools for positive change in one’s life, not a weapon or hurtful to those who read/hear them. Not only…
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A few personal notes in lieu of holiday-focused rhetoric
Plowing on through the year-long Bible study, I am now into Deuteronomy and Acts. I am struggling with remaining open-minded enough not to get bogged down by the minutia of the Old Testament laws. But I also admit that I am doing everything I can not to frame the current national…
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Let’s talk about one vs ten; Life is easier with just one.
Sunday’s sermon was about sin. I know, that seems almost blasé doesn’t it. But let me be honest, sin makes me uncomfortable. Now, I probably need to explain that statement. Sin in my mind is something one consciously does that is against one of the Ten Com- mandments. And I have long struggled with…
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In life’s journey, death is only one of unlimited destinations
Here it is June, typically associated with summer vacations, weddings and Father’s Day. Death is usually not a theme for the month. Yet death forced itself into my world twice during the week. The first death was completely an accident. The second death was inevitable. Sometimes one must simply stop and address…
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An open apology to kids about knowing God, faith
I apologize. As I continue to study and to read the Bible, I realize I failed. I failed to teach you faith. I failed to practice the parenting principles that my own parents taught me. I failed to share what I know to be my own life foundation. I apologize. As I grew…
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Old Testament books, I & II Kings: Easier reading but why read it?
Midway through the second book of Kings, I am finding that I can understand the reading without being totally dependent on study notes. I really was unprepared for the ease of reading these two books after struggling with so much of the ancient literature. Still, I maintained my discipline by reading…
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Prayerful thoughts on closing 2018-19 school year, summer
Certainly I have not kept it secret that I am a retired educator, and also there is no secret that I served in the pulpit for 10 years in a bi-vocational role. Therefore surely there are no surprises that my thoughts for this week are closely connected to the ending of…
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Done: The Chronicles of Narnia Now struggling with sadness Yet coupled with optimism
Time and again I am frustrated with how to manage all the thoughts that get tangled up in my brain after I finish reading a book, but that tangle is multiplied by seven after finishing the series, The Chronicles of Narnia,by C. S. Lewis. I am left with sadness of the end,…
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Sorting out Numbers: So many rules to know!
Continuing with the year-long reading plan, I have been reading the Old Testament book of Numbers. Actually, I am reading the study notes first because the text of Numbers is frustrating to me. I just do not get all the rules and regulations that the Lord placed on the Israelites. Well, I…

